Yes, the Red Sox dealt Scutaro to the Colorado Rockies in January primarily for the purpose of gaining payroll flexibility to address other needs, and they already have used $3 million of the nearly $8 million in savings (for luxury tax purposes) to sign outfielder Cody Ross to a one-year deal. But they also obtained Mortensen in the Scutaro trade, and the 26-year-old right-hander is attempting to win a spot on the pitching staff.

"Hearing I was going to go Boston, it was nerve-wracking, it was exciting," said Mortensen (Herald photo by Matt Stone). "Finally I get to play for a big-name team. It's just sweet. They're the Red Sox. They play in the best division, facing the Yankees all the time. Back in the American League, big hitters, it's exciting, it's a challenge. What better time and place than to try to make a name for yourself than here."

One National League scout recently labeled Mortensen a "4-A pitcher," indicating that he doesn't have a good enough fastball to be much more than a depth starter to be stashed in Triple-A in the event of an injury. But after the trade, former All-Star pitcher Mark Mulder tweeted that Mortensen is "a very similar pitcher to Tim Hudson if he starts to command his pitches the way Huddy does." Mortensen, who briefly teamed with Mulder with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009, said he's flattered by the comment.

"It's cool that he said that," Mortensen said. "I look at it in a sense that I'm probably not like anybody. I feel the way I do, I don't throw like anybody else. But I take it as a compliment in that Tim Hudson is definitely a stud pitcher and has been for a while."

Mortensen is 4-8 with a 5.12 ERA in 24 games (13 starts) over the past three seasons with the Cardinals, Athletics and Rockies. For now, he's being stretched out as a starter, but it's possible the Red Sox could see him as a fit in the bullpen. Mortensen also has an option that allows him to be sent to the minors without being exposed to waivers.

Most of all, Mortensen is seeking some consistency in his career after being traded three times in the past three years, including to Oakland in a 2009 deal for Matt Holliday.

"I'd like to stay in one place for a while, just because you get bonds with your teammates, you're used to the facility, the staff, the way things are run," Mortensen said. "(Getting traded) becomes second nature to you, but when you go somewhere else, you've got start all over again, figure out the way things are going, everyone's kind of unsure of you, you're the new guy.

"Where I'm at right now, I feel like I'm right there. I just feel like a couple things need to happen: One, you need to get a chance, and two, you need to make the most of it. It's a matter of staying with what you do and just keep working hard, and once you get that chance, you just run with it."